“At some point, your kids or grandkids will come to you and say, what did you know, when?” These words of warning from longtime Minnesota meteorologist Paul Douglass helped kick off the Northfield Climate Summit, a day of environmentally-focused presentations and discussions at St. Olaf College. The goal of the gathering was to create “a community conversation about climate change, its impact on Minnesota, and practical steps available to local residents, businesses and institutions to create a more sustainable future,” according to the event’s press release. Over 700 people registered for the conference and heard presentations by senators, business owners, professors, DNR representatives, clergy members and other experts. A community activity and idea fair showcased the work that local groups—including several from Carleton—have done to mitigate the effects of environmental degradation.
A memorable moment in the conference occurred when Douglass revealed himself to be a moderate Republican, an evangelical Christian, and a member of a Navy family. As he put it, these traits made him “an albino unicorn” in the environmental community. After the laughter subsided, he stressed the importance of environmental advocacy for conservatives as well as for liberals. His remarks may provide a measure of hope to environmental activists working for greater bipartisan collaboration.
Visit northfieldclimatesummit.org to learn more.